Among the 11 regular numbered Love Island UK series from 2015 through summer 2024, Series 3 is the strongest starting point: its cast chemistry and the arrival of Casa Amor helped make the show a cultural breakout. This is one editor’s ranking, not an objective verdict. It weighs casting, format innovation, tone and what each series says about the show’s evolution. All Stars is a separate format and is not included.
All 11 Love Island UK seasons ranked
“Season” here means a regular numbered UK series, Series 1 through Series 11. The list ends with the summer 2024 series; it does not claim that Series 11 is the newest Love Island UK season today. The order below follows one editor’s assessment of the 11-series run, considering casting energy, changes to the format, tonal control and historical significance.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Love & Death on Long Island [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QJ+CnqofL._SL160_.jpg)
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Love & Death on Long Island [DVD] | $20.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![City Island [DVD] [UK Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LBXOgP-ZL._SL160_.jpg)
|
City Island [DVD] [UK Import] | $9.62 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Love and Death on Long Island (1997) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Germany ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sPArQLK6L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Love and Death on Long Island (1997) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Germany ] | $27.09 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Truly: Love | $9.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Ministry Of Sound & Love Island Present The Pool Party / Various | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Series 3 (2017)
The best blend of memorable casting and a format moment that changed the show. Series 3 introduced Casa Amor, a major twist that became part of the franchise’s identity, and its breakout success helped establish Love Island as a cultural fixture. TIME also identifies it as the series that introduced Casa Amor. TIME’s ranking and format overview.
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Series 5 (2019)
A confident high point for the established format: strong casting and a well-balanced tone made the familiar mechanics feel especially effective. The ranking editor places it just behind Series 3; TIME, ranking only the first nine series in 2023, put Series 5 first. That difference is a useful reminder that even the most celebrated seasons produce competing favorites.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
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Series 1 (2015)
The essential origin story. Its smaller-scale, looser feel shows how far the show would travel from its starting point, making it valuable viewing for anyone interested in the format’s evolution—even if later series are more polished.
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Series 4 (2018)
A strong cast and assured use of the now-established format make Series 4 an easy recommendation. It ranks below the first three because it is less defined by a major innovation or historical turning point.
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Series 2 (2016)
The bridge between the first series and the show’s later breakout. A longer run and more confident casting give it momentum, while its place in the early evolution of the format makes it a useful follow-up to Series 1. TIME ranked it second among the first nine series, ahead of Series 3.
Rank #2
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Series 9 (winter 2023)
A successful winter reset, with a move to South Africa and Maya Jama’s debut as host giving the series a distinct identity. The ranking editor sees those changes as strengths; TIME’s 2023 assessment was less favorable and placed it eighth among the first nine seasons. Its position here reflects the value of reinvention as well as the season’s execution.
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Series 6 (winter 2020)
The first winter edition tested a new seasonal rhythm, a South African location and a new host. It is consequential as an experiment, but the ranking editor finds it less polished than the later winter run in Series 9.
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Series 10 (summer 2023)
A steady, mature-format summer: the show’s familiar mechanics work, but the season does less to reshape them. It is a reasonable choice for viewers who want the established Love Island experience rather than a major change in direction.
Rank #3
Love and Death on Long Island (1997) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Germany ]- Love and Death on Long Island (1997)
- Love and Death on Long Island (1997)
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Series 8 (2022)
High-energy and unmistakably modern, but its many format devices can leave less room for chemistry and pacing to breathe. That is the ranking editor’s interpretation, not a consensus: TIME placed Series 8 third in its earlier list of the first nine seasons.
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Series 11 (summer 2024)
Set in Mallorca and launched on 3 June 2024, Series 11 brings plenty of energy but relies heavily on recognizable casting and familiar format devices. The ranking editor sees that engineering as less compelling than the stronger seasons’ mix of novelty and chemistry. ITV’s Series 11 press pack confirms the setting and launch date.
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Series 7 (2021)
The summer comeback after the 2020 summer series was cancelled. It has a meaningful place in the show’s timeline, but the ranking editor finds it less culturally urgent than the other series. That is a critical judgment, not a claim that the season lacked viewers: ITV reported strong performance among 16–34-year-olds and substantial consolidated viewing in 2021.
Rank #4
Truly: Love- RICHIE LIONEL
- R&P INTERNACIONAL
- INTERNATIONAL
- MUSIC
Which Love Island UK season is the best?
For an all-round first watch, start with Series 3: it combines strong cast chemistry with the introduction of Casa Amor, a change that became central to the show’s format. If you want a polished version of the established show, choose Series 5. For a sense of how the format began, start at Series 1 instead.
The ranking is a critical judgment, not a measurement of audience size. For context, ITV reported that the Series 7 finale drew 2.8 million overnight viewers in 2021, with a further 400,000 ITV Hub views, for 3.2 million total viewers. ITV also described the series’ per-episode consolidated average as 4.2 million across devices “so far” at the time of its release. These figures describe viewing, not quality, and should not be treated as a comparable dataset for ranking all 11 seasons. ITV’s Series 7 audience figures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where should I start with Love Island UK?
- For the show’s format-defining breakthrough: watch Series 3.
- For a peak example of the familiar format: watch Series 5.
- For the beginning and the format’s development: start at Series 1, then continue in order.
- For a winter edition and a host change: try Series 9, then compare it with Series 6.
The recurring ingredients include new arrivals, challenges, recouplings and viewer voting; the balance between those mechanics and cast chemistry is part of what makes one series feel more compelling than another. Because opinions differ, the ranking is best used as a guide to what each series offers rather than as a definitive scorecard.
What the rankings and viewing figures can—and cannot—tell you
TIME’s 2023 list covered only Series 1–9, so it cannot settle a full comparison that includes Series 10 and Series 11. Its different ordering—Series 5 first, Series 2 second, Series 8 third, Series 3 fifth, Series 7 sixth, Series 6 seventh and Series 9 eighth—shows how much a season’s standing depends on what a critic values. TIME’s 2023 list.
ITV’s later numbers provide franchise context, not season-by-season evidence. The broadcaster’s 2025 corporate review reported 298 million streams across all Love Island and All Stars series in 2024, and 11.6 million TV viewers across Series 11, All Stars Series 1 and Series 11 of Aftersun that year. Neither figure isolates Series 11’s audience or establishes which series is best. ITV corporate results and reviews.
Where to watch
Availability depends on territory and changes over time. ITV’s 2024 press pack listed the Series 11 launch on ITV1, ITV2, ITVX, STV and STV Player, with the series continuing on ITV2 and ITVX. ITV material also identified Hulu as a US destination for completed UK seasons at the time. Those are historical distribution statements, not a current catalogue guarantee; check your local service’s listings before choosing a series. The press pack also said the franchise had “recently amassed” more than 300 million ITVX streams, without specifying a measurement window.
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